Board of Directors

Edward M. Pereira

Founder/Chief Executive Officer

Having grown up in a military family with my father serving more than 30 years in the United States Air Force, and myself having served for over 12 years as a Federal Agent, it is now my life’s work to Love-on, Give Back, Honor and Serve all those that have selflessly and bravely served and continue to defend and serve Our Great Nation. From a spiritual perspective, for more than 35 years, I have been asking God the question “What is the unique gift that you have placed in me that you want to share with the world”? It wasn’t until I turned 50 and was blessed with a beautiful baby boy that God provided the answer. My son taught me my most valuable lesson, to be the best man, father, husband and community leader that I can be and to leave him a legacy that he can be proud of when I am gone. The legacy that I want to leave is to teach others, through my actions, to be humble and kind, and to love, give, honor and serve so that we can all leave this place better than we found it.

Ann M. Pereira

President

Ann Pereira has 30+ years of experience in the hospitality industry with 18 years in hotel and restaurant operations and 12 years in the private club business in sales and marketing in both Canada and the United States. She has her degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration from Camosun College in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. She also has her certification in Computer Programmer Analyst from Canada.
She currently is the Membership Director at The Tampa Club in downtown Tampa.

Ann has always given back to the community. She is currently on the executive board of Sunrise of Pasco, a domestic and sexual violence center in Dade City, Fl. As a survivor of domestic violence, education on domestic and sexual violence is near and dear to her heart teaching the importance of seeking help, understanding the warning signs, how to gain strength, move past the abuse and be happy again. She has served on the Mid-Atlantic Make-A-Wish Foundation Advisory Committee for 7 years and a board member of the Dreamingtree Foundation in Virginia for 2 years.

CDR. Janette Arencibia

Vice President

United States Navy Commander Janette Arencibia is a 1988 graduate of Mercer County High School in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. She graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 1995 and in 1996 from the EKU MPA program where she was a Patricia Roberts Harris Fellow and Presidential Internship Management Candidate. She is a graduate of the U.S. Navy War College where she earned a Masters in National Security and Strategic Studies. CDR Arencibia is, as well, a graduate of the Marine Corps Command and Staff, Marine Corps University and is currently enrolled in the Uniformed Services University Global Health Engagement program. In support of Operation Enduring Freedom, she was the first Medical Service Corps officer to deploy from a training command reporting as Chief, Joint Visitor’s Bureau with BCT 41 – Task Force Phoenix V to Afghanistan. Arencibia became one of the first female officers to instruct security and weapons training for females in the Afghan National Army ranks. She well represented the U.S. Navy among Army ranks earning the Keith L. Ware Award for her photography and additional written submissions throughout the course of her assignment in Afghanistan. She was awarded by the Afghan National Army for training and instruction provided and is also an honorable member of The Order of St. Barbara, a military honor society of the U.S. for both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps Artillery, including Field Artillery and Air Defense Artillery as a result of her involvement in artillery field training.

Arencibia’s initial sea tour was aboard USNS MERCY where she was a medical planner and patient regulator managing over 200,000 casualties during OPERATION UNIFIED RESPONSE –HAITI. Immediately following her redeployment from Haiti, she deployed onboard the USS IWO JIMA (CP 10) as the Lead Medical Planner. While serving aboard the IWO JIMA, she liaised with Central and South American embassies on behalf of FST-2. As the Plans, Operations and Medical Intelligence DUINS awardee, she reported to the Joint Staff Surgeon’s office in 2012. During her Joint Staff assignment, she was the Project Manager for the Joint Medical Planning Tool; now the required verification and validation analytical tool for the Joint Forces. She was requested to extend at the Joint Staff Surgeon’s office then accepted the Lead Medical Planner Position at NORAD-USNORTHCOM in 2013 where she served until 2016. Arencibia transferred to Marine Forces Central Command where she served as the Lead Medical Planner for exercises EAGER LION and NATIVE FURY and is currently the USCENTCOM Theater Security Cooperation Manager for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Her shore assignments include the Navy School of Health Sciences Security Manager, NNMC-Bethesda Officer in Charge of Contingency Operations, BUMED M3 Readiness Officer, and Medical Officer Recruiter. CDR Arencibia has been selected for 05 and will don the Commander rank in September 2018.

Frank Stitely

Treasurer

Advisory Councils

Business Advisory Council

Edward M. Pereira

Chairman

Having grown up in a military family with my father serving more than 30 years in the United States Air Force, and myself having served for over 12 years as a Federal Agent, it is now my life’s work to Love-on, Give Back, Honor and Serve all those that have selflessly and bravely served and continue to defend and serve Our Great Nation. From a spiritual perspective, for more than 35 years, I have been asking God the question “What is the unique gift that you have placed in me that you want to share with the world”? It wasn’t until I turned 50 and was blessed with a beautiful baby boy that God provided the answer. My son taught me my most valuable lesson, to be the best man, father, husband and community leader that I can be and to leave him a legacy that he can be proud of when I am gone. The legacy that I want to leave is to teach others, through my actions, to be humble and kind, and to love, give, honor and serve so that we can all leave this place better than we found it.

John Shavatt

Advisor

Many of us enter the second half of our lives seeking something to do that just plain feels good. Though I enjoyed and prospered in my 25-year career in the Mortgage Finance and Real Estate Industries, something always seemed to be missing. I took pride in taking great care of all of my Clients and received satisfaction when my dedication to them was returned in words of appreciation. My focus was not on dollars, it was measured by my performance that made People happy that they chose me to handle the largest financial transactions of their lives. The compensation followed when I did my job to the very best of my abilities. I am eternally grateful to all of the wonderful People that placed their faith and trust in me.

That said, something was still missing and I could not put my finger on what that missing piece was.

That all changed when my Best Friend of 38 years, Edward Pereira asked me to join him in his Mission of Gratitude. I was deeply honored and happily accepted his gracious offer. There is something cathartic, life-changing and affirming in our path through life’s journey when it is lived through Loving, Giving, Honoring and Serving others. Having witnessed and heard the heartfelt words that will stir your soul to its depth, and the pure joy of an Angel placing the medal on the chest of their Hero, I am hooked for life. You will be too.

Chris Boehm

Advisor

Frank Stitely

Advisor

Russ Barnes, USAF Colonel (retired), MBA, MS

Advisor

Colonel (retired) Russ Barnes is the CEO and Senior Business Advisor to Entrepreneurs and Executives at Systro, an organization design firm specializing in small business development. His 30+ years of experience in organization development is drawn from military service, franchise ownership, academic programs, and strategy consulting, specifically with small businesses.

After retirement from the military, Russ grew a franchise territory from zero to profitability in less than three years. His growth was based on a clear vision, building an effective network, consistently delivering a quality product and maintaining a relentless focus on customer service.

Russ is a graduate of the Referral Institute Certified Networker program where he received extensive training in referral marketing. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Manhattan College (NY), his MBA from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and his Master of Science degree in Strategic Studies from Air University. He is currently earning a PhD in Organization Development at Benedictine University.

Hero advisory council

CDR. Janette Arencibia

Chairman

United States Navy Commander Janette Arencibia is a 1988 graduate of Mercer County High School in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. She graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 1995 and in 1996 from the EKU MPA program where she was a Patricia Roberts Harris Fellow and Presidential Internship Management Candidate. She is a graduate of the U.S. Navy War College where she earned a Masters in National Security and Strategic Studies. CDR Arencibia is, as well, a graduate of the Marine Corps Command and Staff, Marine Corps University and is currently enrolled in the Uniformed Services University Global Health Engagement program. In support of Operation Enduring Freedom, she was the first Medical Service Corps officer to deploy from a training command reporting as Chief, Joint Visitor’s Bureau with BCT 41 – Task Force Phoenix V to Afghanistan. Arencibia became one of the first female officers to instruct security and weapons training for females in the Afghan National Army ranks. She well represented the U.S. Navy among Army ranks earning the Keith L. Ware Award for her photography and additional written submissions throughout the course of her assignment in Afghanistan. She was awarded by the Afghan National Army for training and instruction provided and is also an honorable member of The Order of St. Barbara, a military honor society of the U.S. for both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps Artillery, including Field Artillery and Air Defense Artillery as a result of her involvement in artillery field training.

Arencibia’s initial sea tour was aboard USNS MERCY where she was a medical planner and patient regulator managing over 200,000 casualties during OPERATION UNIFIED RESPONSE –HAITI. Immediately following her redeployment from Haiti, she deployed onboard the USS IWO JIMA (CP 10) as the Lead Medical Planner. While serving aboard the IWO JIMA, she liaised with Central and South American embassies on behalf of FST-2. As the Plans, Operations and Medical Intelligence DUINS awardee, she reported to the Joint Staff Surgeon’s office in 2012. During her Joint Staff assignment, she was the Project Manager for the Joint Medical Planning Tool; now the required verification and validation analytical tool for the Joint Forces. She was requested to extend at the Joint Staff Surgeon’s office then accepted the Lead Medical Planner Position at NORAD-USNORTHCOM in 2013 where she served until 2016. Arencibia transferred to Marine Forces Central Command where she served as the Lead Medical Planner for exercises EAGER LION and NATIVE FURY and is currently the USCENTCOM Theater Security Cooperation Manager for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Her shore assignments include the Navy School of Health Sciences Security Manager, NNMC-Bethesda Officer in Charge of Contingency Operations, BUMED M3 Readiness Officer, and Medical Officer Recruiter. CDR Arencibia has been selected for 05 and will don the Commander rank in September 2018.

Steven Effler

Advisor

Russ Barnes, USAF Colonel (retired), MBA, MS

Advisor

Colonel (retired) Russ Barnes is the CEO and Senior Business Advisor to Entrepreneurs and Executives at Systro, an organization design firm specializing in small business development. His 30+ years of experience in organization development is drawn from military service, franchise ownership, academic programs, and strategy consulting, specifically with small businesses.

After retirement from the military, Russ grew a franchise territory from zero to profitability in less than three years. His growth was based on a clear vision, building an effective network, consistently delivering a quality product and maintaining a relentless focus on customer service.

Russ is a graduate of the Referral Institute Certified Networker program where he received extensive training in referral marketing. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Manhattan College (NY), his MBA from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and his Master of Science degree in Strategic Studies from Air University. He is currently earning a PhD in Organization Development at Benedictine University.

Technology Advisory Council

Morgan Williams

Chairman

I am from a small town in Ohio, grew up with three younger brothers, & was raised by two amazing parents. From there I took on the big city of Columbus & obtained a degree in Computer Science & Engineering from THE Ohio State University. Every day I get to live being surrounded by my own heroes. My grandpa Ron is an Air Force Veteran, my father Adam is a Police Officer, my brother Evan is active Air Force National Guard, & my husband is currently serving as an Army Infantry Officer. Needless to say I am proud & blessed by what God has given me & the opportunities I have to make a difference.